What is a person to do when the party invitations pile up and you need simple hostess gifts — or
when you need a gift for a homebound or casual friend?

Think hyacinths — those sweet-smelling, nostalgic bulbs that say you care without a lot of fuss
and muss.

A quick stop at the grocery store or florist yields long-lasting potted hyacinths in blue,
purple, white and pink with a cluster of fragrant florets covering a sturdy stalk, according to the
experts at iBulb.org, a nonprofit educational website that focuses on the beauty and use of
flowering bulbs.

The hyacinth pot might be foil-covered or plastic, but you can dress it up by slipping the
plastic pot into a decorative container, bowl or basket. Or go the natural-looking route and wrap
it in fabric such as burlap and tie it with raffia.

The bulbs, with roots and soil intact, can also be carefully lifted from the plastic pot and
replanted in a larger container — with three to five bulbs grouped together — where they will
continue to thrive.

When shopping for hyacinths, purchase the plants with buds closed. Hyacinths bloom from bottom
to top.

Print a card informing the recipient of proper light and temperature conditions.

The plant should be kept in an area with partial sunlight or partial shade and temperatures of
about 60 degrees. Heat speeds up the natural flowering process, and lower temperatures help blooms
last longer.

Water the plants as needed to keep the soil moist, but avoid overwatering because it leads to
rotten bulbs.

No fertilizer is necessary because the nutrients needed for the plant to grow are stored in the
bulb.

For a fancier gift, place a potted hyacinth in a basket filled with seeds and gardening tools
for the 2014 season.